As we were expecting, the latest GPS data shows that our satellite-tagged Osprey, 30(05), spent her Christmas on the short section of Senegalese coastline that she has called home since September; her longest flight over the past 10 days was just 1.8 miles on 21st December. 30’s sedentary behaviour is good news for two reasons. Not only does it show that she is very settled at her winter home, but it also means that there is every chance that four members of the Osprey team will see her in January. All being well John Wright, Paul Stammers, Cat Barlow and Junkung Jadama will be looking for 30 on 27th and 28th January. They’ll be there as part of our latest Rutland Osprey Project trip to West Africa.

30’s latest positions on the Senegal coast

On 7th January myself and a team of staff and volunteers will be jetting off to Banjul to spend two weeks looking for Ospreys in The Gambia. John, Paul, Cat and Junkung will then travel into northern Senegal in order to look for 30(05) and to visit two outstanding places to see wintering Ospreys – the Somone Lagoon and Djoudj National Park. At the latter site, they’ll be meeting up with our friend Frederic Bacuez.

This is the fourth year that we have taken a group of staff and volunteers out to The Gambia, but during the first week we’ll be heading into uncharted territory – we’re travelling inland to Georgetown. The second week sees us return to more familiar ground; we’ll be based at the Sandele Eco retreat on the Gambian coast. This second week will give us the opportunity to catch up with a Rutland Osprey. I received a phone call from Junkung Jadama earlier this week to say that 5F(12) is still at Tanji Marsh, suggesting that, as we hoped, she has settled there. With a bit of luck we’ll see her in a couple of weeks.

The trip will also give us the opportunity to develop the Osprey Flyways Project. Thanks to funding from Melton Rotary we’ll be installing computer equipment in the schools currently involved in our pilot education project. This will give the students the opportunity to participate in World Osprey Week – our new initiative that will encourage schools to follow the progress of migrating Ospreys this spring, and to get in touch with each other via the internet.

Although internet connectivity will be difficult during the first week of the trip, we’ll update you on our progress during the second coastal week, when we’ll also be joined by Roy Dennis. Our regular diarist, Ken Davies, is also coming on the trip – so watch out for some bumper editions of Ken’s diary! It promises to be an exciting few weeks.

An Osprey fishing off the Gambian coast

Finally I would like to wish you all a very happy, prosperous and Osprey-filled New Year! Thanks for all your support in 2013 and here’s to a very successful 2014.